Patient information disclosure policy

Under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Montage Health is limited in the information we may provide about patients.

Requirements to release information

HIPAA regulations require that the hospital release patient information only when:

• The media request includes the patient's name and
• The patient has agreed to the release of such information

What we can release

Once it has been established that information can be released, that information will be limited to:

• A one-word condition
• A general hospital location

One-word conditions

Montage Health may report the condition of a patient as:

• Undetermined – Patient is awaiting physician and/or assessment
• Good – Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent
• Fair – Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable
• Serious – Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable
• Critical – Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable
• Deceased – This may only be reported after next-of-kin has been notified. The hospital may not disclose information regarding the date, time, or cause of death

Hospital locations

We may report:

• Patient is in the Emergency department
• Patient is in the Intensive Care Unit
• Patient has been admitted, but is not in intensive care (i.e. patient is in a regular inpatient room)

After discharge

If the patient has been released, we may disclose the patient has been:

• Treated and released, or
• Treated and transferred to another healthcare facility

Additional privacy protections

Some patients sign a form forbidding release of any information, including whether they are in the hospital. In those cases — and in cases where someone is not in the hospital — we will tell callers that we do not have information on a patient by the name provided.

In cases involving sexual assault, suicide, psychological services, AIDS/HIV, and chemical dependency, the hospital cannot share any information. Releasing information in any other high-sensitivity cases is at the discretion of the hospital.